Portable apparatus for splicing synthetic yarn



June 6, 1967 w. v. WILLIAMS 3,323,971

PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR SPLICING SYNTHETIC vYARN Filed Nov. 14, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WILLIE VINCENT WILLIAMS BY @.MMIL.

June 6, 1967 w. v. WILLIAMS 3,323,971

PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR SPLICING SYNTHETIC YARN Filed Nov. 14, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 III III "IIIIII" es 78 s3 9o 7e 3o 3| 2o 26 INVENTR FIGS WILLIE VINCENT WILLIAMS 0. www@ ATTORNEY June 6, 1967 w. v. WILLIAMS 3,323,971

PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR SPLICING SYNTHETIC YARN Filed Nov. 14, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I l WILLIE VINCENT WILLIAMS ORNEY June 6, 1967 w. v. WILLIAMS 3,323,971

PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR SPLICING SYNTHETIC YARN Filed Nov. 14, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTO WILLIE VINCENT WILLIAMS BY MMI.

` A ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,323,971 PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR SPLICING SYNTHETIC YARN Willie Vincent Williams, 701 Greene St., Dalton, Ga. 30720 Filed Nov. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 594,166 13 Claims. (Cl. 156-433) This invention is a continuation-impart of my prior copending application Ser. No. 349,435, led Mar. 4, 1964, now Patent No. 3,301,735, for Apparatus for Splicing Synthetic Thermoplastic Yarn.

The general object of the invention is to improve upon the construction and operation of the apparatus in said prior application and in my prior Patent 3,160,547, issued Dec. 8, 1964. In the prior copending application and prior patent, the apparatus was essentially intended for use on a work bench and while lightweight and readily movable by hand, it was not completely portable because of being connected to a source of electrical power by a cable. The principal object of the present invention is to eliminate the use of the cable and render the apparatus batterypowered lso that it is c-ompletely portable and need not lbe restricted to use in one work location.

Another object of the invention is to provide a yarn splicing apparatus which is shaped substantially like a pistol and operated generally in the manner of a pistol, rendering the apparatus highly convenient to use.

Another object is to provide in a yarn splicing apparatus a unique radiant-type heating element, together with means for shifting yarn to be spliced accurately and in small increments of distance toward the heating element, until exactly the desired heating eifect is obtained.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus of the mentioned type which is extremely lightweight, fully adjustable, rugged and durable, and reliable and eliicient in operation, the apparatus requiring practically no skill to use successfully for its intended purpose.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for splicing theremoplastic yarn which resets itself automatically upon release by the user for the next cycle of operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will becorne apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of a pistol-type thermoplastic yarn splicing apparatus according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with its cover removed and shown separately for clarity;

FIGURE 2a is a transverse vertical section taken on line 2a-2a of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus as shown in FIGURE 2 with the trigger element in a partly retracted position;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view of the apparatus with the trigger fully retracted;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the opposite side of the apparatus;

FIGURE 6 is a further side elevation of the side of theapparatus shown in FIGURE 5 with the trigger fully retracted; q l 3 FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the cover removed;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a yarn feed assembly forming a part of the apparatus; and

FIGURES 9 to 12 inclusive are fragmentary plan views showing the operation of the yarn feed assembly of FIG- URE 8.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration ICC is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 designates a ibase 0r support for the cornponents of the apparatus, the support having the general shape of a pistol and including a hand grip portion 21 which is hollow for the reception of a battery 22, such as a nickel-cadmium battery or a nickel-iron battery. The battery employed is rechargeable and of a type which has a very long life and which has a constant output, preferably of 1.25 volts. The battery per se is conventional and available on the market. Other types of batteries may be employed, if desired. The battery chamber of the hand grip portion 21 has a removable cover element 23 preferably having a bayonet-type quick release connection with the hand grip portion so that the battery may be quickly removed for recharging and/or replacement. It is contemplated to furnish a simple battery recharging unit with the apparatus and this unit is not shown in the drawings `and forms no direct part of the invention, being simply a desirable accessory.

The support 20 which extends forwardly of the hand grip portion 21 serves to mount the yarn heating means, to be described, the means to engage and feed the yarn in a controlled manner toward the heating means, and the entire carriage and guide structure of the apparatus.

More specifically, a fixed vertically disposed main guide bar or plate 24 is rigidly mounted upon the support 20 through the medium of brackets 25 and 26. As shown in the drawings, the bar 24 is spaced somewhat above the upper tlat face of the support 20 and parallel thereto.

Suitably secured to one Iside of the bar 24 near the rear y end thereof is a microswitch 27 or the like electrically connected by a wire 23 with one terminal of the battery 21, the opposite terminal of which engages a contact spring, not shown, on the cover element 23. Another wire 29 leads from another terminal of the switch 27 along the opposite side of the bar 24, FIGURE 5, and extends forwardly to a ceramic insulating block 30 rigidly mounted above the support 20 by a bracket 31. The interior side of the ceramic block 30 supports a nichrome radiant-type heatingpelement 32 which extends vertically and spans a horizontal slot 33 in the forward end of the block 30. The wire 29 is electrically connected with one terminal of the heating element 32, the opposite terminal of which connects with another wire 34 leading back to a grounded connecti-on 35 on the support 20 which is formed of metal. In this manner, the battery 21,' switch 27 `and heating l element 32 are electrically connected in a simple series circuit.

Mounted upon the guide bar 24 for reciprocation longitudinally thereof is a carriage plate 36 of rectangular configuration, extending adjacent to one side of the guide bar 24 and slidably engaged with the same by corner grooved preferably plastic bearing elements 37. The carriage plate 36 carries a depending trigger element 38 rigid therewith which is movable inside of the confines of a trigger guard 39. The carriage plate 36 is constantly urged forwardly on the guide bar 24 by -a retractile spring 40, one en-d of which is anchored to a lateral screw 41 on the carriage plate 36 and Ithe other end of which is anchored toa bracket 42 fixed to the support 20.

Secured for limited lateral swinging movement to the side of the carriage plate 36 remote from guide bar 24 is a longitudinal generally T-shaped rail 43 having a rear enlarged head portion 44 whose rear vertical edge 45 is somewhat inwardly directed and rockably engages the `adjacent side of carriage plate 36. A screw 46 serves to secure the rail 43 to the carriage plate, and a spring 47 on the screw 46 permits the necessary lateral movement of the rail 43 as it pivots about its rear edge 45. The screw 46 restrains the rail 43 from movements in other directions. The rail 43 moves bodily with the carriage plate 36 longitudinally of the guide bar 24.

The rail 43 slidably supports a slide 48 which may move longitudinally with the rail and carriage'plate 36 under certain conditions and also move longitudinally relative to the rail and carriage plate under other condi-Y tions. l`he slide 48 includes a top bar 49' which engages the upper longitudinal edge of rail 43 and vertical portions 50 and 51 which are slotted to receive the rail 43 slidably. The slide 48 is constantly urged forwardly by a retractile spring 52 similar to the spring 40. One end of the spring 52 is anchored to the slide portion 50 while its other end is anchored to an extension of the bracket 42. The bracket 42 also includes a rigid upstanding stop 53 which engages a bottom horizontal stop lug 54 on the slide 48 to positively limit the forward travel of the slide 48 under inuence of spring 52. When the slide 48 is 4thus engaged with the stop 53, the other spring 40 continues to urge the carriage plate 36 and rail 43 forwardly as a unit until head portion 44 abuts the vertical portion 50 `of the slide 48, FIGURE 2. Rearward movement of the carriage plate 36 and all parts associa-ted therewith is limited by an adjustable stop 55 on the guide Ibar 24.

The upper rear bearing element 37 of carriage plate 36 carries a laterally projecting lug 56 which upon movement of the carriage plate engages an actuating rod 57 carried by an extension 58 of a rockable microswitch actuator 59, pivotally secured to a bracket 60, rigid with the guide bar 24. The microswitch 27 may be a normally open switch, and when the carriage plate is retracted by use of the trigger element 38, FIGURE 6, the actuator 59 is swung downwardly and the switch closes to complete the circuit through the radiant heating element 32. It will be noted that the lug 56 is now riding on the horizontal portion of the rod 57 and retains the same depressed. The spring-loaded plunger of the microswi-tch elevates the rod 57 to its normal position shown in FIGURE automatically when the carriage plate moves forwardly to its normal position. The switch plunger is shown at 61.

The forward end of rail 43 carries an extension 62 upon the inner side of which is rigidly mounted a yarn gripping jaw 63 having a rearwardly opening slot 64 in which the yarn ends to be spliced are extended transversely during the use of the apparatus. A coacting jaw blade `65 rigid with the slide 48 and spaced from its inner side, FIGURE 2, is adapted to enter the slot 64 longitudinally when the trigger 38 is retracted, FIGURE 6, whereby the yarn ends will be clamped in the slot 64 during the actual splicing operation between the two jaws 63 and 65. The rail 43 also carries a forwardly longitudinally extending resetting rod 66 rigid therewith which is engageable with a diagonal resetting cam 67 mounted upon a mounting plate 68, FIGURE 7, on the main support 20. As will be further described, the engagement of the rod 66 with the cam 67 upon release of the trigger 38 after completion of a yarn splicing operation automatically resets the yarn feeding rachet mechanism, to be described, and swings the forward end `of the rail 43 outwardly to the normal position shown in FIGURE 7.

Means is provided to gradually shift the yarn ends toward the radiant heating element 32 while they are `being gripped between the jaws 63 and 65 and while the two jaws are in a retracted position laterally opposite the heating element, FIGURES 4 and 6. This feeding means is shown in detail in FIGURES 8 through 12 and comprises the mounting plate 68 which is rigid with support 20 at the front end of the same. A transversely extending ratchet bar 69 is slidably mounted upon a thin slide plate 70, in turn secured to the mounting plate 68. The ratchet bar 69 has tapered teeth 71 on the opposite sides thereof facing in the same direction and the ratchet bar has central longitudinal guide slots 72 and 73 formed therein for guided engagement with posts 74 and 75 on the plate 68. The ratchet bar 69 is movable longitudi- 4 nally as will be apparent. The ratchet bar 69 also has an integral upstanding extension 76 at one end thereof, having an aperture 77 which receives the resetting rod 66 slidably.

On opposite sides of the ratchet bar, a pair of coacting feeding pawls 78 are mounted, having corresponding ends pivoted to laterally spaced pivot pins 79 on the mounting plate 68. Each pawl has a single tapered tooth 80 which cammingly engages the side teeth 71 of the ratchet bar to positively feed the same in one direction toward the heating element 32 in FIGURE 7. The pawls 78 carry upstanding pin elements 81 near their ,forward ends to which the opposite ends Iof a retractile spring 82 are connected, as shown. The spring 82 serves to constantly draw -the two pawls together ory toward the ratchet bar 69.

A reciprocatory pawl-actuator plate 83 is slidably mounted upon the two pawls 78 and the intervening ratchet bar 69. `One end of the actuator plate 83 is secured to a retra-ctile spring 84 having its other end anchored to a screw 85 on the mounting plate 68. The spring 84 is somewhat stronger than the spring 82 and is capable of overcoming the latter and biasing the adjacent pawl 78 to an open or inactive position with respect to the ratchet bar, see FIGURE 9. The actuator plate 83 has a central longitudinal slot 86 therein which receives the fixed post 75 with clearance. The actuator plate also has a lateral projection 87 underlying the spring 82 and adapted to engage either of the pin elements 81 for shifting the pawls 78 selectively. On its opposite side, the actuator plate 83 has a guide extension 88 defining guide slots 89 which receive the pivot pins 79 and by this arrangement the pawl-actuator plate 83 is guided during its reciprocation at right angles to the ratchet bar 69. The post 75 carries a head block 90 which overlies the pawl-actuator plate 83 and prevents upward displacement of the same.

The end of the pawl-actuator plate 83 remote from spring 84 is connected lto a pull link 91 having an adjustable abutment block 92 thereon, arranged in the path of movement of a lateral lug 93 which projects from the carriage plate 36, whereby retraction of the carriage plate by the trigger will cause engagement of the elements 93 and 92, followed by movement of the pawlactuator plate 83 rearwardly so as to expand the spring 84 and operate the rearward pawl 78.

All of the mechanism on the main support 20 is covered during use by an inverted U-shaped cover or housing 94 having inturned lower anges 95 received slidably within grooves 96 in the opposite sides of the support 20. The cover 94 has a front end wall 97 rigid therewith and the opposite end of the cover abuts a fixed end wall 98 on the main support 20. The cover 94 is secured detachably to the support 20 by a screw 99 engaging within a notch 100 in the rear end of the cover. The cover or housing 94 is shown in the assembled position in FIGURE 1. Also as shown in FIGURE 1, the splicing apparatus may be placed in a suitable holster 101 suspended from the shoulder by an adjustable lanyard 102.

As depicted in FIGURE 2, the cover 94 has a cross slot 103 in its curved top and opposite side wall longitudinal slots 104 and 105 of sufficient length to accommodate the yarn ends in all adjusted positions of the `gripping jaws 63 and 65.

The operation of the yarn splicing apparatus is briefly as follows:

When the trigger 38 is in a free or released position, FIGURES 2, 5 and 7, the carriage plate 36 is in the forwardmost position under inuence of the spring 40 and the head portion 44 engages the back of slide 48 and the latter under influence of its spring 52 is against the stop element 53. The coating jaws 63 and 65 are now fully separated, FIGURE 5, and the yarn receiving slot 64 is well in advance of the heating element 32 which spans the slot 33 in the ceramic insulating block 30. The switch actuator rod 57 is now free from contact with the element 56 and the microswitch 27 is in the normally open condition and the circuit between the battery 22 and the radiant heating element 32 is interrupted. Also, at this time, the yarn receiving slot 64 is located adjacent the forward end of the cover slot 104.

Ends of thermoplastic yarn -to be spliced are now laid through the slot 103 transversely of the apparatus and enter the slot 64 of the forward jaw 63. The trigger 38 may now be retracted to the full extent, FIGURES 4 and 6, limited by engagement of the carriage plate 36 with the stop element 55. At this time, the spring 40 has Ibeen stretched to the greatest extent and the jaw 65 has been engaged by the jaw 63 which causes the slide 48 to then move rearwardly and extend the spring 52. It will be understood that when the trigger 38 is thus retracted, the carriage plate 36 and rail 43 slide back first and then the forward jaw 63 upon engagement with the jaw 65 picks up the slide 48 and moves it back for the remainder of the total travel of the trigger and the carriage plate 36. During this movement, FIG- URE 6, the switch actuator rod 57 is engaged and held in the switch closing position and the heating element 32 becomes energized through the described circuit.

The jaws 63 and 65 and the yarn ends clamped between them in the slot 64 are now shifted adjacent to the heating element 32, as shown clearly in FIGURE 6. However, at this time, upon the initial full retraction of the trigger, the rail 43 and the jaws 63 and 65 are still spaced a considerable distance laterally of the heating element and the rail and associated parts are disposed at an angle to the carriage plate 36 and the ceramic block 30 and diverge forwardly therefrom generally as shown in FIGURE 7.

In order to fuse the yarn ends and splice them, the jaws 63 and 65 holding the yarn ends must be gradually shifted toward the heating element, while maintaining the yarn ends in the vicinity of the heating element. Also, this lateral shifting must be controlled so that the yarn does not actually contact the heating element, it being a major feature of the invention to splice the yarn by radiant heat rather than by direct rubbing contact with the heating element as in the mentioned prior application and patent. Toward this end, when the trigger and carriage plate 36 approach the end of the initial retraction, the pull link 91 is shifted rearwardly against the force of spring 84 and the yarn feeding ratchet mechanism changes from the condition shown in FIGURE 9 to that of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 9 shows the ratchet mechanism when the trigger is released and fully forward as in FIGURES 2 and 5. The resetting rod 66 is then engaged with the cam v67 and the jaws 63 and 65 are in their forwardmost positions and separated. The pull link 91 is released and the spring 84 is holding the pawl actuator plate 83 forwardly as shown in FIGURE 9. The forwardmost pawl 78 is disengaged from the ratchet bar 69 while the rearward pawl 78 is engaged under influence of the spring 82.

Referring to FIGURE 10, the condition of the feeding mechanism is shown when the trigger and carriage plate 36 and associated parts are initially fully retracted as described, FIGURES 4 and 6. The pull link 91 has been drawn rearwardly and the pawl lactuator plate 83 is drawn rearwardly against the spring 84. This disengages the rearward pawl 78 from the ratchet bar 69 and engages the front pawl with the ratchet bar due to action of spring'82. The camming action of the tooth 80 on the front pawl now shifts the ratchet bar inwardly one step toward the heating element 32 and due to the connection of the ratchet bar at 76 with the resetting rod 66, the entire rail 43 and the jaws 63 and 65 are shifted laterally a step toward the heating element. This step is equal to the spacing between ,a pair of the ratchet teeth 71 and may be about 1A; inch or a similar small distance.

6 At this time, the rail 43 pivots slightly about its 'rear vertical edge 45.

It is still necessary to shift the jaws 63 and 65 and the gripped yarn ends closer to the radiant heating element 32 in a controlled manner. To do this, the trigger 38 and carriage plate 36 are reciprocated a slight amount only, keeping the jaws 63 and 65 in the vi-cinity ofthe heating element. This small movement of the trigger will cause a corresponding reciprocation of the pull link 91 while the elements 93 and 92 remain engaged and the microswitch 27 remains closed due to the action of the elements 56 and 57. The reciprocation is imparted to the pawl actuator plate 83 as described and the two pawls 78 are alternately engaged and released from the opposite side teeth 71 of the ratchet bar 69 so that the ratchet bar is stepped inwardly toward the heating element a tooth at a time upon each forward and rearward reciprocation of the actuator plate 83. This correspondingly swings the gripping jaws 63 and 65 and the yarn ever closer to the energized heating element 32 under close control of the user Without ever bringing the yarn into physical contact with the heating element.

To assure that this contact cannot take place, an adjustable transverse screw stop 106 is provided on the forward end of the guide bar 24 in the lateral path of movement of the rail 43, so as to contact the inner side of the same and arrest its movement toward the heating element. When this point is reached, further reciprocation'of the trigger and pawl actuator plate 83 will be ineffectual to move the ratchet bar 69 and the rod 66 which in turn moves the jaws laterally.

At this point, the fusing and splicing of the yarn ends will have been accomplished and the trigger is released and the parts return forwardly to the normal positions shown in FIGURES 2, 5 and 7. The resetting rod 66 contacts the resetting cam 6'7 and shifts the assembly including the jaws 63y and 65 and the rail 43 away from the heating element 32 or to the righ-t in FIGURE '7. This causes automatic reverse movement of the ratchet bar 69 to its initial posi-tion shown in FIGURE 9 and the teeth of the ratchet bar merely skid over thetooth 80 of the rearward pawl 78. The jaws 63 and 65 are now separated and the spliced yarn ends are easily removed from the cover slot 163. The forward movement of the trigger and associated parts releases the rod 57 and reopens the switch 27 to interrupt the heating circuit, and the parts are now reset for a new cycle of operation when desired. FIGURES 1l and 12 merely illustrate random steps or adjustments of the pawl and ratchet yarn feeding mechanism and certain intermediate ste-ps are not illustrated to reduce the number of views. FIGURE 12 actually shows the innermost possible movement of the ratchet bar 69 whereas FIGURE 11 shows a step or a movement of the ratchet bar beyond its position in FIGURE 10. The relatively limited reciprocation is graphically illustrated by the lpositions of the rod 66 in FIGURES l0 through l2 as compared to the full reciprocation of the trigger as depicted by the positions of the rod 66 in FIGURES 9 and 12.

It is now thought that the construction and operation of the yarn splicing apparatus and its various features and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art without any further description.

It is to be understood that vthe form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, withou-t departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for splicing thermoplastic yarn or the like comprising a support including a primary guide member, a heating element fixedly mounted upon the support, carriage means on the primary guide member and being shiftable thereon, yarn gripping means` on the carriage means movable therewith and including relatively movable gripping jaws, said gripping jaws movable with the carriage means from inactive positions remote from the heating element to an active position adjacent the heating element but spaced laterally therefrom, and means on the support having a connection with the carriage means and the yarn gripping means to gradually shift said jaws laterally toward the heating element while they are arranged adjacent the heating element.

2. The invention as defined by claim 1, and wherein said support is shaped substantially like a pistol and includes a hand grip portion, and a trigger element connected with the carriage means and operable to shift the carriage means.

3. The invention as defined by claim 2, and wherein the hand grip portion includes a battery chamber, a battery within said chamber, circuit means including a switch connecting the battery with the heating element, and a switch actuator in the path of movement of the carriage means and operated thereby when the carriage is shifted in the direction to move the gripping jaws adjacent to the heating element.

4. The invention as defined by claim 1, and wherein said means having a connection with the carriage means and the yarn gripping means comprises a laterally extending toothed ratchet bar connected with the gripping means, a longitudinally extending pawl actuating plate connected with the carriage means, and at least one feeding pawl for the ratchet bar engageable with said actuator plate upon movement of the actuator plate by the carriage means.

5. The invention as defined by claim 4, and a resetting cam on the support in the path of movement of the yarn gripping means to automatically shift the yarn gripping means and said ratchet bar back to a starting position upon release of the carriage means.

6. A hand-held portable apparatus for use in splicing synthetic yarn and the like comprising a support adapted to be held in the hand, a main guide bar on the support, a fixed electrical radiant heating element on the support in spaced relation to the guide bar, a carriage member movably mounted on the guide bar and shiftable thereon toward and away from said heating element, a switch on the support in circuit with the heating element and having an actuator in the path of movement of the carriage member whereby the switch will be closed when the carriage member is moved in one direction relative to the heating element, a yarn gripping device including relatively movable gripping jaws connected with the carriage member and movable therewith and having limited lateral swinging movement relative to the carriage member, spring means urging the carriage member and yarn gripping device in one direction relative to the heating element, a ratchet feeding mechanism on the support and having connections with the carriage member and said gripping device and operable during reciprocation of the carriage member to gradually swing the gripping device laterally toward the heating element, and means on the support engageable with the gripping device to return the gripping device and the ratchet feeding mechanism to an initial position which is remote from the heating element.

7. The invention as defined by claim 6, and wherein the last-named means on the support is a diagonal cam element which engages a leading extension of the gripping device to force the same laterally away from the heating element,

said ratchet feeding mechanism including a toothed ratchet bar directly connected with said leading extension.

8. The invention as defined by claim 6, and wherein said ratchet feeding mechanism comprises a transversely extending toothed ratchet bar, a pair of pivoted single tooth pawls on opposite sides of the ratchet bar, a spring interconnecting said pawls, a longitudinally movable pawl actuating plate, a spring connected with said plate and urging it in one direction and acting against the force of the spring interconnecting the pawls, a pull link connected with said plate and having a lost motion connection with the carriage member, and a rod having a sliding connection with the ratchet bar and secured to the yarn gripping device and movable bodily therewith.

9. The invention as defined by claim 1, and a cover member engageable with the support and substantially enclosing the elements mounted upon the support and having a slot to receive yarn held by said gripping jaws.

10. A pistol-like synthetic yarn splicing apparatus comprising a hand grip portion and a longitudinal portion constituting a support, a longitudinal guide member on the support, a carriage member movably mounted on the longitudinal guide member and having a trigger-like operating extension projecting below the support, an electrical radiant heating element fixed on the support near the forward end of the guide member and forwardly of the carriage member, a switch on the support near the rear end of the guide member and rearwardly of the carriage member and having an actuator engageable by the carriage member when the latter is retracted by the trigger-like extension, a yarn gripping means mounted upon the carriage member and movable therewith and including a pair of relatively movable gripping jaws, resilient means connected with the carriage member to urge it and the yarn gripping means forwardly so that said jaws are normally spaced forwardly of the heating element and also spaced laterally thereof, retraction of the carriage member closing the jaws and shifting them longitudinally adjacent the heating element, and feed means connected with the carriage member and with the yarn gripping means and operated by limited reciprocation of the carriage member while the jaws are adjacent the heating element to gradually shift the jaws into close proximity with the heating element.

11. The invention as defined by claim 10, and an adjustable stop element on the guide member engageable with said yarn gripping means to positively limit said gradual shifting of the jaws toward the heating element so that the jaws will not physically engage the heating element.

12. The invention as defined by claim 11, and another pair of stop elements on the support in longitudinally spaced relation to limit the longitudinal movement of the carriage member in both directions.

13. The invention as defined by claim 10, and a battery in the hand grip portion, and wiring interconnecting the battery, switch and heating element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1948 Waugh et al 156-433 5/1965 Strother 156-433 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR SPLICING THERMOPLASTIC YARN OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A SUPPORT INCLUDING A PRIMARY GUIDE MEMBER, A HEATING ELEMENT FIXEDLY MOUNTED UPON THE SUPPORT, CARRIAGE MEANS ON THE PRIMARY GUIDE MEMBER AND BEING SHIFTABLE THEREON, YARN GRIPPING MEANS ON THE CARRIAGE MEANS MOVABLE THEREWITH AND INCLUDING RELATIVELY MOVABLE GRIPPING JAWS, SAID GRIPPING JAWS MOVABLE WITH THE CARRIAGE MEANS FROM INACTIVE POSITIONS REMOTE FROM THE HEATING ELEMENT TO AN ACTIVE POSITION ADJACENT THE HEATING ELEMENT BUT SPACED LATERALLY THEREFROM, AND MEANS ON THE SUPPORT HAVING A CONNECTION WITH THE CARRIAGE MEANS AND THE YARN GRIPPING MEANS TO GRADUALLY SHIFT SAID JAWS LATERALLY TOWARD THE HEATING ELEMENT WHILE THEY ARE ARRANGED ADJACENT THE HEATING ELEMENT. 